Sweet Itch Treatments for Horses

Sweet itch effects thousands of horses, ponies and donkeys every year. It is caused by midges (the most common one being Culicoides pulicaris midge) which will bite most equines, yet sweet itch will only effect the equines that have developed an allergy to this fly’s bites.

The percentage of horses that suffer from sweet itch varies from country  to country. It is believed that sweet itch only affects 5% of the UK’s horse population. Sweet Itch can effect many breeds of horses, from the tiny Shetland ponies to the vast shires, however it is rare for an English thoroughbred to get sweet itch.

Sweet itch is not contagious.

Symptoms

Wherever the horse lives the symptoms are likely to always be the same:

  • hair loss (especially mane and tail)
  • severe itching
  • rubbing a lot
  • excessive rolling
  • flaky, dandruff skin
  • thickening skin
  • red or sore skin

If you see any one of these signs then it is possible that your pony has contracted sweet itch. It is important to get it treated as soon as possible, before a secondary infection sets in.

The most common places for a pony to get sweet itch is the mane and base of the tail. If you notice any hair loss in these places then it is best to get your pony checked. Sweet itch can often occur in points of pressure, such as where the saddle or girth goes. The most severe places for a horse to have sweet itch are: saddle area, sides of head, forehead, ears, genital areas and legs.

Treatments

There are a number of treatments for sweet itch. The most common of which is some sort of powder. There are also many creams available to get rid of sweet itch.

For my Shetland ponies I use a cream called ‘Itch Stop’ which is very easy to administer (you just apply to the affected areas) and is very effective.

Whilst your horse is being treated for sweet itch, you could get a sweet itch rug, which basically stops any more fly bites and stops the treatment being rubbed off.

You can get many treatments for your horse from places that specialise in farming, horses and agriculture. Treatments can also be acquired from vets.

Preventing Sweet Itch

Preventing sweet itch is the best form of treatment. Many people use horse-friendly insect repellents on the horse and its environment.

Barrier techniques, such as a whole body rug, is a good way to stop your horse getting sweet itch.

There are quite a few nutritional supplements, some of which are herbal remedies, that vets recommend to stop your horse getting sweet itch.

If you have any concerns about your horses seek advice from a trained vet.

June 6, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · 2 Comments
Tags: , ,  Â· Posted in: Horse and Pony Care, Medical Information (Horses)

2 Responses

  1. Kelly - June 7, 2010

    Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

  2. Gerry - June 12, 2010

    Sweet Itch sounds very uncomfortable.